CNBNews

MANSFIELD, CT – Top-ranked Eastern Connecticut State defeated #10 Rowan, 6-1, in the first of a three-game series at the NCAA Baseball Willimantic Super Regional at the Eastern Baseball Stadium. Due to the forecast of storms for Saturday, the second game will be played on Sunday, May 29 beginning at 11 a.m., with a third game to follow if necessary. 

The winner of this regional punches a ticket to the Division III World Series in Cedar Rapids, IA, from June 3-8. 

Rowan (33-9) had 11 hits in the game, but stranded 13 runners, and trailed 6-0 before getting on the board with a run in the ninth. Ryan Murphy, Patrick Defeciani and Chris Curcio had two hits apiece for the Profs. 

The Warriors (43-3) jumped out with two runs in the first on three hits, using a single by Matt Malcom and a sacrifice fly from John Mesagno to drive in the runs. ECSU added another in the third scoring on a Rowan error.

Eastern Connecticut built the lead up to 6-0 with a two-run homer from Ryan Bagdasarian in the fourth and then a sacrifice fly in the fifth.

Trip McCaffrey led off Rowan’s ninth with a single and advanced on a fielder’s choice Defeciani. McCaffrey then scored on a single from Ryan Mostrangeli.

Rowan starter Eli Atiya (8-1) suffered his first loss of the season while ECSU’s Billy Oldham (10-2) kept the Profs scoreless through seven innings. 

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